“Currahee Thunder” Riding Strong
From left to right – Brooklyn Chastain, Kasey Crawford, Savanna Taylor, Brittany Fulbright, Emily Stewart and Kinley Craig
A group of young people from Stephens and Franklin counties is riding their way to success in the world of equestrian drill team.
The Currahee Thunder Drill Team is made up of 11 children from Stephens and Franklin counties.
It practices at the Currahee Saddle Club and recently, WNEG spent time with the team.
Their head coach is Shelby Fricks and their assistant coach is Joanne Taylor.
Fricks said drill team requires its participants to work together as a team, riding horses in sync, following patterns set to music.
“It is like taking an auxiliary group with a band that works together and they do these routines to music,” said Fricks. “That is what we are doing with horses.”
The team started about a year ago and already has won competitions and placed in competitions at the national level.
Rider Brooklyn Chastain said she has been on other drill teams before and really enjoys this one and the excitement of competing.
“Drill team teaches you a lot about how to work with a team and good sportsmanship and horsemanship,” said Chastain.
Meanwhile, Savanna Taylor said she also enjoys competing, especially the team aspect of it.
“I have to look out for my teammates and make sure I do not let them down,” said Taylor. “It is like on a basketball team where you compete with others.”
The team practices numerous days a week for its competitions and Brittany Fulbright said that practice is important, adding being on a drill team requires a lot of dedication.
“You have to be really motivated and know it is something you really want to do,” said Fulbright.
Kasey Crawford has been on the team for the past year as well and said he enjoys it.
“It is fun being able to compete with your own horse and carrying flags and going all over the South and competing,” he said.
From left to right – Klayton Crawford, Zoie Glover, Grayson Terrell, Maddy Mobley, Bentley Huff
This year, the drill team has added a junior varsity squad to go along with the varsity team.
Klayton Crawford, Kasey’s brother, is on the junior varsity team and said he also enjoys the drill team.
“It is fun,” said Crawford. “I get to ride with my friends.”
The team includes riders as young as 7-year-old Bentley Huff.
Huff has only been riding on the team for a few weeks, but said he is having a great time.
“I like riding,” said Huff. “I like my teammates. I like riding with friends.”
Meanwhile, Grayson Terrell said she enjoys the fact that the whole team is like a family.
“We spend lots of time with our houses,” said Terrell. “I keep my horse at Mrs. Fricks’ house and go over there and work on it a bunch.”
Coaches Fricks and Taylor both said that they want the team to have the family atmosphere.
In addition, Fricks said she wants those on the team to come away with more than just the skills to ride on a drill team.
“We did not want it to be just a drill team where we get out there and compete,” said Fricks. “We wanted to tie in character and what the Bible tells us about character and how to behave and tie it in with teamwork.”
Other team members are Emily Stewart, Kinley Craig, Zoie Glover, and Maddy Mobley.